1983 dodge d150 overcharged battery
You need to learn to troubleshoot. Not trying to sound flippant or sarcastic. One question.......Do you know if this was ever the huge frame 105A alternator (way larger bracket, etc?) Some of those used a "field loads" relay and different wiring
For all others, the VR/ field circuit is such:
The wire at top marked "ignition" is the switched 12V "run" line that powers the ignition system and some other underhood loads. It is not only power to the VR but also the "sense" voltage. That voltage MUST not have voltage drop or the system will overcharge. It branches off and goes to one of the two field terminals on the alternator. The remaining field terminal comes back to the VR. The VR in effect controls "the amount of ground" or the current through the field to control the output. More current is more magnetism and therefore more output
You must determine if that circuit is correct. You must check field continuity at the alternator field terminals and be sure that NEITHER IS GROUNDED.
You must check for voltage drop either in the field / VR circuit or the ground circuit. For the VR/ hot side of the circuit, turn key to "run" with engine off. Stick a probe of your meter into the battery positive post, and the remaining probe as electrically close to the VR IGN terminal as you can get. This will likely be the key switch fed terminal of the ballast. You may be able to back probe the light blue at the alternator field, and you may have to switch the two field terminals of the alternator around to probe the blue. Does not matter which terminal the blue and green connect to
You can quickly tell if the VR has any control over the alternator by disconnecting the blue wire at the alternator
You need to learn to troubleshoot. Not trying to sound flippant or sarcastic. One question.......Do you know if this was ever the huge frame 105A alternator (way larger bracket, etc?) Some of those used a "field loads" relay and different wiring
For all others, the VR/ field circuit is such:
The wire at top marked "ignition" is the switched 12V "run" line that powers the ignition system and some other underhood loads. It is not only power to the VR but also the "sense" voltage. That voltage MUST not have voltage drop or the system will overcharge. It branches off and goes to one of the two field terminals on the alternator. The remaining field terminal comes back to the VR. The VR in effect controls "the amount of ground" or the current through the field to control the output. More current is more magnetism and therefore more output
You must determine if that circuit is correct. You must check field continuity at the alternator field terminals and be sure that NEITHER IS GROUNDED.
You must check for voltage drop either in the field / VR circuit or the ground circuit. For the VR/ hot side of the circuit, turn key to "run" with engine off. Stick a probe of your meter into the battery positive post, and the remaining probe as electrically close to the VR IGN terminal as you can get. This will likely be the key switch fed terminal of the ballast. You may be able to back probe the light blue at the alternator field, and you may have to switch the two field terminals of the alternator around to probe the blue. Does not matter which terminal the blue and green connect to
You can quickly tell if the VR has any control over the alternator by disconnecting the blue wire at the alternator